Don’t be frightened by bling – Harrison to boys
“I’M STILL excited each day when I come to work. It has had its challenges, but I’ve had wonderful staff. They work very hard,” said Dirk Harrison, the ex-prosecutor with 13 years in the courts before becoming contractor general.
Talking about working hard, Harrison said that he has ensured that his family remains his primary focus. His wife, Diahann Gordon Harrison, is the Children’s Advocate in the Office of the Children’s Advocate. Both once served together in the public prosecutor’s office.
“We have four children – two boys aged 11 and eight and two girls. One is four years old and the other, one year old. We never took work home,” he shared, adding that he and his wife ensure that their children have an upbringing
based on respect and honesty.
Harrison did not win his campaign for guild president at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies but said that it was part of building his career because he believes that people must pursue their dreams “no matter how long it takes”.
“Some of the greatest judges in the United Kingdom, some of them failed maths over and over again. So many famous lawyers in the United States failed the law exam. The fact is, it doesn’t mean that the person cannot or won’t achieve.”
For boys, in particular, Harrison wanted this to be his parting message: “Don’t be frightened by the bling. Live with what you have and within your means.” As it relates to abuse, he said to them: “Be very gentle. Treat everyone as if they were your mother or sister.”